Santa Barbara Bankruptcy Attorney - Expert Personal and Corporate Bankruptcy Lawyers serving Santa Barbara, California.

If you are struggling financially and looking to speak with a Santa Barbara bankruptcy attorney, you've come to the right place. We will stop lawsuits, stop garnishments, stop, bank account levies, stop judgments and stop foreclosures. We have 36 locations to meet you in California.

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A bankruptcy is an opportunity to be relieved of constant harassing phone calls from creditors and collection agencies. Consulting with a bankruptcy attorney to see if a bankruptcy might be your best option, to determine if you qualify for relief and which chapter is appropriate based on your particular circumstances is essential.

There are many misconceptions regarding bankruptcy. As a consumer or small business owner, you have the option of Chapter 7 liquidation or Chapter 13 reorganization.

Chapter 7 Liquidation

Chapter 7 can be utilized by individuals, married couples, businesses and corporations. In most consumer and small business cases, however, you are able to retain most if not all of your personal assets. Also, filing automatically stays or stops all collection activities.

You have to qualify for a Chapter 7 proceeding. Your monthly income must be lower than the median income for your state. In California, the median income for a single individual is $47,798 and for two, $62,009. Otherwise, your disposable income must be low enough to qualify. This is determined by deducting your monthly expenses from your average monthly income over the past 6 months. If it is too high, you may still consider a Chapter 13 petition.

In any bankruptcy, you must list all your creditors. You must also have not transferred any substantial property within 90 days of filing or within one year if such transfer was made to a relative or business partner or the court can void it. A list of your monthly expenses and assets is also required.

You are entitled to certain exemptions regarding your personal assets so that the trustee will not seize them for the benefit of your creditors. For example, you can exempt a motor vehicle, much if not all of your home equity, retirement accounts, bank accounts, furniture, tools of your trade and other items. Consult with our expert bankruptcy lawyer about what exemptions are available to you.

You must also take an approved credit counseling class before filing and a personal financial management class before your discharge. Most discharges occur about 4 months after you file. Your unsecured creditors, such as credit cards and medical expenses, are dischargeable.

Chapter 13 Reorganization

If your disposable income is too high, or if you wish to continue operating your small business, or you face foreclosure of your home, then a Chapter 13 is an option. You must have a steady income, though, to some degree, are paid within either a 3 or 5 year plan. The length of your repayment plan depends on your income. If it exceeds the state’s median, your plan will likely be 5 years.

A chapter 13 can save your home from foreclosure provided you can make your regular monthly mortgage payments while repaying your arrearages over the life of the plan. Any second mortgage would be discharged at the termination of the plan if all is otherwise successful. Further, you can have past due taxes, student loans and child support payments paid off within the plan as well.

Bankruptcy protection might be the relief you are seeking. Consult with an experienced bankruptcy attorney about your particular circumstances and to see if filing for bankruptcy is the right decision for you.